After close race, eight communities proceed to Strongest Town Contest's second round
The 6th annual Strongest Town Contest continued Monday with the announcement of the second round lineup. Voting is now open to the public to determine which community will proceed to the semifinal round.
During this stage, competitors will provide photographic evidence of their strength. Voters will have a chance to virtually tour each town through submitted images before choosing which communities should advance.
The public is also invited to read Strong Towns member commentaries on each city to learn more about how each place exemplifies fiscal resilience, bottom-up action, and effective response to the challenges of the pandemic. These commentaries will be posted to the Strong Towns website Tuesday.
The four communities that receive the most votes before noon Central on Thursday, March 25 will advance to the semifinals.
The stakes are high. Representatives from the final four cities will get to tell a national audience why their home deserves the Strongest Town title during a podcast interview with Rachel Quednau, Strong Towns program director and host of The Bottom-Up Revolution Podcast.
Round 2 Matchups:
Strongest Town Round 2 Bracket
Kenmore, Washington vs. Bentonville, Arkansas
Oxford, Mississippi vs. Yellow Springs, Ohio
Lockport, Illinois vs. Middleton, Wisconsin
Bismarck, North Dakota vs. Northfield, Vermont
Find photo locations and attributions here.
Since 2019, the Strongest Town contest has seen a 30% increase in participation, with more than 12,000 people casting votes in this year's first round. Competing communities organize "get out the vote" campaigns that span their respective regions, and Strong Towns members from all over the world lend a third-party perspective.
Looking at the uptick in voting over the years, it's clear that the Strong Towns principles of financial resilience and iterative, bottom-up investment are picking up steam in North America.
John Pattison, Strong Towns Content Manager and Contest Organizer
Strong Towns helps local leaders identify the cause of decline in our cities and take action to build a stronger, financially resilient future. The Strong Towns movement is reshaping the North American development pattern with a return to bottom-up, incremental growth.
For comment from Strong Towns, to connect with someone who nominated a community, or for more information about the contest, contact Lauren Fisher.
Find logos and promotional images here.
Use #StrongestTown on Social
Twitter: @strongtowns
Facebook: @strongtowns
Instagram: @strongtownspics
Past Winners:
2020 - Watertown, South Dakota
2019 - Pensacola, Florida
2018 - Muskegon, Michigan
2017 - Traverse City, Michigan
2016 - Carlisle, Pennsylvania
